Oakville can now boast two solar installations as a result of the Halton Residential Solar Project (HRSP).

The first installation took place in December. The second was just recently completed at the home of the Project Coordinator, Lisa Seiler. Both systems will convert the sun’s energy into electricity, which will be fed directly into the electricity grid.

Both homeowners are awaiting finalization of the province’s new Feed-in Tariff (FIT) program before having their systems connected. According to Seiler, that is supposed to happen sometime this month, and it’s worth the wait.

“With the FIT, the Ontario Power Authority will pay us 80.2¢ per kilowatt-hour for all electricity produced, which is a lot better than the 5 or 6 cents we pay to Oakville Hydro,” says Seiler. “The reason for the huge incentive is that the bulk of the solar electricity is produced during peak load times, e.g. when the sun is hot and everyone has their air conditioners on. At those times, the OPA is actually getting a good deal by buying electricity under a dollar, plus it’s clean energy.”

Both Oakville systems will be on display this Sunday, June 14, when the HRSP team holds a Solar Tour. A third much larger installation, on a barn in north Milton, is also on the tour. Carpooling can be arranged.

The HRSP involves three vendors of solar electric (PV) systems. The three systems were each installed by a different vendor, so the tour gives the opportunity to compare and ask questions. Members of the project team, representatives of the vendors, and the homeowners will be on hand.

The HRSP is a project of the Halton Environmental Network (HEN). Although Seiler and the rest of the project team are currently operating on a volunteer basis, they are pleased to have an Electrical Engineering co-op student helping out this summer, thanks to funding from Canada Summer Jobs.

To sign up for the tour, please call 905-827-5989 or email [email protected]. The tour is free, but donations are welcome. Additional tours will be planned.

The Green Energy Act has passed Third Reading and Oakville Town Hall will be the site of a public forum on the Act on Tuesday, May 19 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. Kevin Flynn, Oakville MPP and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of the Environment, will be the keynote speaker. Responses will come from Rabia Yazdanie, HRSP team member, and Roberto Garcia of the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association. Oakville Town Hall is located at 1225 Trafalgar Road, just north of the QEW. The event is open to the public and free to attend.

HRSP team members will also be appearing at the following public events:

• Sat. May 23 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Oakville Conserves Energy Fair at Oakville Town Hall, 1225 Trafalgar Road.
  Exhibitors will be displaying energy conservation information and wares. HEN will display solar and conservation information as well as the new Halton Enviro Guide. HRSP will hold solar workshops from 10:30 to 11:30 and from 1:00 to 2:00. This fair is free to attend.
• Sun. May 24 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Willow Park Ecology Centre
  on Mary Street off Hwy 7 in Norval (near Georgetown)
  It's opening day for Willow Park. HEN will staff a table and be on hand to answer questions about going solar.
• Sat. June 6 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Whole Foods Market
  at 301 Cornwall Road, just east of Trafalgar Road south of the QEW in Oakville.
  Whole Foods is holding a mini-fair for Canadian Environment Week. HRSP will hold solar workshops at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. and staff a table. Find out more about this event at www.wholefoodsmarket.com.
• Sat. June 6 from 3:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. at the Downtown Milton Street Festival
  HEN and the HRSP will have a table at this fun community event. www.downtownmilton.com
• Sun. June 14 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  HRSP will hold a Solar Tour of recent PV installations under HRSP. There are three installations at present - two in Oakville and one in north Milton. Please email [email protected] if you are interested in attending. There is no cost, but donations will be appreciated.
• Sat. June 20 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Ice Cream with Alan and Ralph
  This is the Oakville Ward 1 Councillors' annual event at the gazebo by the lake in Bronte.
  HEN will staff a table and be on hand to answer questions about going solar.

• Friday July 17 6 p.m. – 12 a.m. – Downtown Oakville Midnight Madness
  Come and visit us and HEN member groups Oakvillegreen and GreenTrans on Lakeshore Road in front of Swiss Interiors!

• Tuesday July 21 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. – Home, Green Home

Located at Halton Hills Public Library, 9 Church Street, Georgetown

A workshop for home owners  on environmental purchasing, pitching, and getting paid to go green, presented by Practically Green Solutions. Register for this free program in person at the Georgetown Branch or call 905-873-2881 ext. 2511

• Friday July 24 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Burlington Mall Farmer’s Market
  

– located at Guelph Line and Prospect Street, South of Zellers.

Come and visit us and HEN member group BurlingtonGreen and buy some local produce!

Additional events and details will be posted as they are confirmed.

The Government of Canada is now offering a rebate of $1,250 (an increase from $500 previously offered) for the purchase of eligible solar hot water systems until March 31, 2011. In addition, the Government of Ontario is matching the increased rebate offered by the federal government for a total combined rebate of $2,500 towards the cost of an approved solar domestic hot water system.
 
The Halton Residential Solar Project can help you determine whether your chosen system is eligible for these rebates.
 
The federal rebate is available through the ecoENERGY Retrofit-Homes program which encourages various retrofits to increase the energy efficiency of a home. All rebates under the program are being increased by at least 25% until March 31, 2011.
 
For details on the federal program and a list of available federal rebates visit: http://www.ecoaction.gc.ca/ecoenergy-ecoenergie/retrofithomes-renovationmaisons-eng.cfm
 
See news article: http://www.thestar.com/comment/columnists/article/610800

Note that to qualify for the abovementioned rebates, an NRCan-certified energy advisor must conduct a pre and post-retrofit assessment in your home.

Solar hot water systems are also eligible for the Home Renovation Tax Credit, which returns to you 15% of expenses between $1,000 and $10,000, until February 1, 2010.

For a complete table of government inventives, visit: http://www.the-hen.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=572&Itemid=91 

Yesterday the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) proposed that rooftop solar electricity producers be paid 80.2 cents per kWh of electricity that they produce under a long-term contract. This rate will apply to most residential photovoltaic systems.

This guaranteed-pricing structure is called a feed-in-tariff (FIT). The FIT program will replace the OPA's Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program that currently pays solar electricity producers 42 cents per kWh.

On Saturday, March 7, the Halton Residential Solar Project will host a Solar Fair at the Halton Regional Centre, Auditorium (1151 Bronte Rd., Oakville ON).

AGENDA

At the Solar Fair, speakers will give an overview of residential solar energy applications as well as the costs and benefits. Homeowners will be able to speak with vendors of solar energy technologies, view vendors' displays, and talk to a financial advisor about the financial strategies and incentives that are associated with installing solar energy equipment.

All welcome, free to attend.

Government of Canada’s Ecoaction Program Supports Halton Solar Project 

ACTON, ON -- February 6, 2022 -- Canada’s Natural Resources Minister and Halton MP Lisa Raitt, on behalf of Canada’s Environment Minister Jim Prentice, today announced support from the federal government for the Halton Residential Solar Project. The project is part of Environment Canada’s EcoAction Community Funding Program.

“These local projects show how ordinary Canadians, in their own communities, can help to build a more sustainable Canada. We are proud to support community groups across the country who want to take action to help preserve Canada’s natural environment,” said Minister Raitt.

This project is led by the Halton Environmental Network (HEN), to provide education and outreach to homeowners in Halton Region, and facilitate the adoption of solar technologies in Halton Region.

Read more: http://www.ec.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=714D9AAE-1&news=89A2A98C-2BB2-4AA8-AD23-609F5837F080

A series of four evening meetings is being held in the last two weeks of February. All meetings are open to the public and free to attend. See the post below for dates and locations.

The agenda for each of our four evening meetings is:

Happy New Year from the Halton Residential Solar Project! 

At the Solar Fair on October 4, HRSP team members announced the establishment of an online solar group. This allows homeowners interested in installing a solar system to communicate with each other.

Membership in the group is by invitation. The project team is monitoring the communication but not leading it. It is the intention that vendors will not be members.

If you are interested in using this tool to communicate with other homeowners, please send an email to [email protected].

To communicate with the project team, please email [email protected].

There are seven vendors participating in the Halton Residential Solar Project (HRSP). Three of the vendors are offering photovoltaic (solar electricity) systems. Four of the vendors are offering solar thermal (hot water) systems. They are listed below in alphabetical order.

The photovoltaic (PV) vendors are:

• ARISE Technologies
• Eco Alternative Energy
• Sun Volts Unlimited

The solar domestic hot water vendors are:

• Glenbarra Energy
• Globe Solar Energy
• Goldwater Solar Services
• SolarOntario Ltd.

For more information about the vendors' offerings, click here.

To download information handed out at the public meetings, click here.

Click on the links below to the main HRSP website for information on the topics shown. The site is part of the Halton Environmental Network's website.

• Solar thermal (hot water) systems
• Photovoltaic (solar electricity) systems
• Home energy audits and grants
• Frequently asked questions

To help us gather data and determine your level of interest in the project, please fill in our survey.

Contact the Halton Residential Solar Project (HRSP) at [email protected].

A series of public information meetings was held in Halton Region between September 22 and October 2.  A  culminating meeting & Solar Fair was held: Saturday October 4 in the  Halton Regional Centre Auditorium 1151 Bronte Rd. Oakville. 

For times and locations or for information on these meetings and more, please visit our main site.

Greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming are a leading environmental concern at present. The Halton Environmental Network (HEN) plans to help reduce these emissions by providing homeowners in Halton with an incentive to produce green power. The project is known as the Halton Residential Solar Project (HRSP).

This project will see solar panels installed on homes throughout Halton. The target is a minimum of 50 homes. The incentive comes in the form of bulk buying discounts offered by the vendors for the opportunity to supply a large number of buyers. Both solar electric (photovoltaic panels) and solar thermal (water heating) options will be offered.  HEN has received bids back from vendors in response to an RFP and plans are moving ahead. Visit the HRSP website for more information.